TY - JOUR
T1 - Social ecological approach to factors influencing perinatal mental health service provision among providers in Bulloch County, GA
AU - Choongo, Janet
AU - Apenteng, Bettye
AU - Nkemjika, Stanley
AU - Telfair, Joseph
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.
PY - 2023
Y1 - 2023
N2 - Perinatal mental illness pertains to pregnancy-related mental health complications, which could last as long as one year post-delivery. Despite the high prevalence of PMI, there remains a poor accessibility and utilization of mental health services, especially in the rural America. Hence, using the Social Ecological Model (SEM), we aim to identify factors influencing perinatal mental health service provision among providers in Bulloch County, GA. Using a random sampling method, we recruited 15 mental health providers in Bulloch County through professional networks who completed open-ended surveys between January 31 and March 5 of 2021. The open-ended survey was guided by the SEM constructs, which included Individual, Interpersonal, Organizational, Community, and Policy factors. The Qualitative thematic analysis was conducted using NVivo software. Major barriers among providers include lack of available resources and lack of rapport among patients and providers. Major facilitator themes included increase in mental health screening, rapport building, education, and awareness. This study suggests the introduction of group therapies in public communal areas is helpful. Findings from this study will be useful in developing tailored interventions to address barriers to perinatal mental health-care utilization experienced by both women and perinatal mental health-care providers.
AB - Perinatal mental illness pertains to pregnancy-related mental health complications, which could last as long as one year post-delivery. Despite the high prevalence of PMI, there remains a poor accessibility and utilization of mental health services, especially in the rural America. Hence, using the Social Ecological Model (SEM), we aim to identify factors influencing perinatal mental health service provision among providers in Bulloch County, GA. Using a random sampling method, we recruited 15 mental health providers in Bulloch County through professional networks who completed open-ended surveys between January 31 and March 5 of 2021. The open-ended survey was guided by the SEM constructs, which included Individual, Interpersonal, Organizational, Community, and Policy factors. The Qualitative thematic analysis was conducted using NVivo software. Major barriers among providers include lack of available resources and lack of rapport among patients and providers. Major facilitator themes included increase in mental health screening, rapport building, education, and awareness. This study suggests the introduction of group therapies in public communal areas is helpful. Findings from this study will be useful in developing tailored interventions to address barriers to perinatal mental health-care utilization experienced by both women and perinatal mental health-care providers.
KW - Healthcare utilization model
KW - mental health providers
KW - perinatal mental health
KW - perinatal mental health services
KW - social ecological model
KW - women
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85147440496&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/03630242.2023.2169806
DO - 10.1080/03630242.2023.2169806
M3 - Article
C2 - 36710486
AN - SCOPUS:85147440496
SN - 0363-0242
VL - 63
SP - 229
EP - 240
JO - Women and Health
JF - Women and Health
IS - 3
ER -